By ELLEN TORDESILLAS
IF the reason for the cancellation of the supposedly Sept. 3 visit of President Aquino to China was because the Chinese government set conditions that would be inimical to Philippine interest, and Aquino rejected it, why wasn’t he the one who cancelled the visit?
Remember, it was China who gave notice to the Philippines that they didn’t find this time “conducive” for Aquino to visit China.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez released Monday a Q&A briefer and like all badly written script, it raised more questions.
Four of the five questions (The first one was about the invitation.):
Were there any concerns and conditions from China for the President’s attendance?
There were subsequent concerns and conditions to the President’s attendance and such conditions were absolutely inimical to our national interest. To avoid embarrassment on the Chinese side, we will not state these conditions but you may wish to address this specific question to H.E. Ambassador Ma Keqing.
Under what circumstances were these conditions conveyed?
These concerns and conditions were delivered by at least three Chinese Foreign Ministry sources. We were advised that these conditions (1) should not be made public and (2) should not be discussed at Ministerial level.
Given the unusual request and the importance of the issue involving our President, it was necessary for the conditions to be confirmed by the two Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Beijing last Wednesday, 28 August 2013.
Did the President accept these conditions?
The President stood firm in the defense of the country’s national interest.
Was the President given appropriate and timely advice on the issue?
As in all matters of foreign policy importance, the President is regularly advised in a timely and confidential manner.
Sources in the DFA said the conditions set by China were for the Philippines to withdraw the suit filed at the UN Arbitral Tribunal questioning the legality of China’s 9-dashed line map and that the Philippine take out the beached Philippine Navy ship in Ayungin shoal, not so far away from the Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef.
It’s easy to believe that the Chinese laid down these twin conditions in a meeting between Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia and China’s Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin in Hongkong on Aug.9 on Aquino’s possible visit to China.
The question is, were these conditions relayed to Aquino? DFA’s line on this is “ As in all matters of foreign policy importance, the President is regularly advised in a timely and confidential manner.”
When is “timely” because apparently the President was not informed until after China canceled the visit. Or if the information was relayed through a Malacanang official, did it reach the President?
On Aug. 28 during the awarding ceremonies of the Apolinario Mabini Awards (It’s ironic that the diplomatic faux pas happened during an event in honor of the Father of Philippine Foreign relations. Mabini was the foreign secretary of the First Philippine Republic.) Aquino announced: “Bibiyahe ho tayo next week. Mahaba hong biyahe sa China. Alis akong ala-singko ng umaga; balik ho nang ala-singko ng hapon. Ayaw nating ma-overstay ang welcome natin doon. “ (We are traveling next week. It will be a long trip to China. I will leave 5 a.m., back 5 p.m. We don’t want to wear out their welcome).”
At that time, words had already gotten out that on Aug. 23, the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Philippine Embassy in Beijing through Deputy Chief of Mission Antonio Morales that they do not welcome a visit by the President and they would rather that the Philippine delegation to the 10th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, Guanxi would be headed by Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.
The Q&A also said when told about the conditions, “The President stood firm in the defense of the country’s national interest.”
If he “stood firm,” why was he pushing through with the visit until China told Philippine officials he was not welcome at this time? Why wasn’t he the one who cancelled the trip.
DFA’s statements on this fiasco contradict each other. That’s the problem when one is not telling the truth.
Advice to DFA: get a better scriptwriter.
